New Michelin XHA2 Designed to Deliver Durability and Traction

The new Michelin XHA2 loader tyre, introduced in early January at the Intermat trade show’s press days, has been designed to accomplish three goals: reduce hourly operating costs, ensure that work continues smoothly and safely, and improve operator working conditions. The tyre is intended for loaders in quarries and cement plants and on construction and infrastructure worksites. The XHA2 will be officially unveiled at the Intermat 2009 building and construction trade show in April 2009. The tyre will be available in replacement markets around the world beginning in May 2009.

Robustness, says Michelin, is one of the fundamental qualities of the XHA2, helping to make the tyre a powerful performance driver on any worksite. The manufacturer notes that, in order to understand the tyre’s importance, it should be remembered that the XHA2 is designed to fit wheel loaders: these vehicles often operate on rough terrain where they must move heavy loads as quickly as possible. If a tyre fails to perform during this critical phase of operations, the worksite comes to a halt, which is why the Michelin XHA2 was designed as a strong link in the entire chain of quarry, construction or industrial worksite operations. To achieve this result, Michelin has integrated three technologies in its new tyre: Additional rubber has been incorporated in the tread, making the tyre even more damage-resistant; the sidewalls have been strengthened with a special protective rib and anti-scrape shields; Michelin has developed crack absorbing rubber compounds that help to prevent flats.

The Michelin XHA2 is designed to deliver both durability and robustness. The tyre lasts up to nine per cent longer than its predecessor, which Michelin comments is currently the benchmark tyre on major worksites around the world, including quarries, cement plants, construction sites and infrastructure projects.

In addition to its durability, Michelin reports that the XHA2 provides another advantage: its superior traction helps get the job done faster. The tread improves traction and gives the tyre self-cleaning qualities, expelling earth caught between tread blocks, while reducing temporary losses of grip. This optimised traction reduces rolling resistance and therefore fuel consumption. The tyre’s patented tread design is said to dramatically reduce vibrations that can be felt by operators and damage mechanical components. Additionally, says Michelin, the XHA2 reduces the oscillations caused by heavy loads and frequent changes of direction thanks to its larger contact patch.

The new Michelin tyre also features a new casing. This underlying structure, says the manufacturer, makes retreading an easier and more cost-effective process. The XHA2 will become available in the original equipment market in 2010. The tyre will be available in the following four sizes for the replacement market as follows: Size 26.5R25 in May 2009, size 23.5R25 in July 2009, sizes 29.5R25 and 20.5R25 in 2010.